Arcade Clone Shootouts |
From the very first episode, I have compared arcade clones that were available on the Spectrum, to see which one stood out. There were hundreds of them, and because of this I limited the tests to commercial releases only. The full shootouts can be seen in the corresponding episode, noted in each section.
Asteroids
Asteroids was released into the arcades in 1979, and made a break from the traditional raster based graphics to give the game a stunning and unique look. The new technique was vector graphics, wire-frame objects calculated and drawn in real time to give a neon like feel to the whole game. Vector graphics were never the Spectrum's strong point, so this would be a challenge for any programmer.
The winner was: Planetoids by Psion/Sinclair
See the games in Episode 3
Asteroids was released into the arcades in 1979, and made a break from the traditional raster based graphics to give the game a stunning and unique look. The new technique was vector graphics, wire-frame objects calculated and drawn in real time to give a neon like feel to the whole game. Vector graphics were never the Spectrum's strong point, so this would be a challenge for any programmer.
The winner was: Planetoids by Psion/Sinclair
See the games in Episode 3
BattleZone
Battlezone was released into the arcades in 1998 and used the same neon-like vectors to portray a futuristic battlefield swarming with tanks and alien saucers. Again this would prove troublesome for the Spectrum, but some of the results were much improved from the early Asteroids attempts.
Wineer: Battlezone by Quicksilva
See the games in Episode 42
Battlezone was released into the arcades in 1998 and used the same neon-like vectors to portray a futuristic battlefield swarming with tanks and alien saucers. Again this would prove troublesome for the Spectrum, but some of the results were much improved from the early Asteroids attempts.
Wineer: Battlezone by Quicksilva
See the games in Episode 42
Berzerk
Berzerk was an early arcade game released in 1980. The simplistic graphics hid a surprisingly good game and should have been easy to replicated on the Spectrum. The game had random mazes and speech too.
Winners: Frenzy from Quicksilva and Robon from Softek.
See the games in Episode 36
Berzerk was an early arcade game released in 1980. The simplistic graphics hid a surprisingly good game and should have been easy to replicated on the Spectrum. The game had random mazes and speech too.
Winners: Frenzy from Quicksilva and Robon from Softek.
See the games in Episode 36
Centipede
Centipede was released in 1980 and introduced not only a new game variant, but also included a new control method, the trackball. Using small simplistic graphics would not have caused a problem for the Spectrum, however the numerous elements and enemies on screen cold have.
Winner: Squirmy Wormy from John Prince
See the games in Episode 54
Centipede was released in 1980 and introduced not only a new game variant, but also included a new control method, the trackball. Using small simplistic graphics would not have caused a problem for the Spectrum, however the numerous elements and enemies on screen cold have.
Winner: Squirmy Wormy from John Prince
See the games in Episode 54
Defender
Defender is one of the top-rated arcades due to its simple yet difficult gameplay and speed of execution. The game had fast scrolling landscapes and some iconic sounds. Replicating this on the Spectrum would be a huge achievement.
Winners: Guardian II from Hi-Tech Software and Starblitz from Softek.
See the games in Episode 28
Defender is one of the top-rated arcades due to its simple yet difficult gameplay and speed of execution. The game had fast scrolling landscapes and some iconic sounds. Replicating this on the Spectrum would be a huge achievement.
Winners: Guardian II from Hi-Tech Software and Starblitz from Softek.
See the games in Episode 28
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong, released by Nintendo in 1981, is a very early ,and some might say one of the first (taking into account Space Panic), platform games for the arcade. It is also famous for introducing one of Nintendo’s great gaming icons Mario to the world, although he wasn't actually called that in this game, he went by the name of Jump Man.
Winners: Donkey Kong from Ocean and Krazy Kong from PSS.
See the games in Episode 15
Donkey Kong, released by Nintendo in 1981, is a very early ,and some might say one of the first (taking into account Space Panic), platform games for the arcade. It is also famous for introducing one of Nintendo’s great gaming icons Mario to the world, although he wasn't actually called that in this game, he went by the name of Jump Man.
Winners: Donkey Kong from Ocean and Krazy Kong from PSS.
See the games in Episode 15
Frogger
Released into the arcades in 1981, this colourful and fun game had you trying to get a frog from the bottom of the screen to the top avoiding cars, lorries, snakes and turtles. The game breaks from reality by having a frog that is killed by falling into the river.
Winner: Froggy by DLJ Software
See the games in Episode 33
Released into the arcades in 1981, this colourful and fun game had you trying to get a frog from the bottom of the screen to the top avoiding cars, lorries, snakes and turtles. The game breaks from reality by having a frog that is killed by falling into the river.
Winner: Froggy by DLJ Software
See the games in Episode 33
Galaxian
Galaxian was created and developed by Namco and distributed by Midway in 1979. The creator’s main aim was to improve on the standard Space Invaders game adding a multitude of new features including mini-music intro, multi-coloured animated sprites, swooping aliens, scrolling star field and icons to depict progress and lives.
Winner: Galaxian from Atrisoft
See the games in Episode 9
Galaxian was created and developed by Namco and distributed by Midway in 1979. The creator’s main aim was to improve on the standard Space Invaders game adding a multitude of new features including mini-music intro, multi-coloured animated sprites, swooping aliens, scrolling star field and icons to depict progress and lives.
Winner: Galaxian from Atrisoft
See the games in Episode 9
Joust
Using sound from Defender, Joust was released into the arcades in 1982. The weird premise was a calculated choice to move away from shooters and aliens, and produce something different. The graphics and sound should be fairly easy to create on the Spectrum, but many failed.
Winner: Lancer Lords from Rabbit Software.
See the games in Episode 67
Using sound from Defender, Joust was released into the arcades in 1982. The weird premise was a calculated choice to move away from shooters and aliens, and produce something different. The graphics and sound should be fairly easy to create on the Spectrum, but many failed.
Winner: Lancer Lords from Rabbit Software.
See the games in Episode 67
Lunar Rescue
A multi part game, this release from 1979 used the same hardware and sounds from Space Invaders and had you rescuing astronauts from the moon’s surface. The many moving elements in this game could prove tricky for the Spectrum.
Winner: Mission Impossible from Silversoft.
See the games in Episode 46
A multi part game, this release from 1979 used the same hardware and sounds from Space Invaders and had you rescuing astronauts from the moon’s surface. The many moving elements in this game could prove tricky for the Spectrum.
Winner: Mission Impossible from Silversoft.
See the games in Episode 46
Missile Command
Released in1980, this game had very simplistic graphics which should have been easy to recreate on the Spectrum. Protecting cities on the plants surface, you used one of three missile bases with separate controls. The control system would prove to be the tricky part.
Winner: Earth Defence from Artic Computing.
See the games in Episode 12
Released in1980, this game had very simplistic graphics which should have been easy to recreate on the Spectrum. Protecting cities on the plants surface, you used one of three missile bases with separate controls. The control system would prove to be the tricky part.
Winner: Earth Defence from Artic Computing.
See the games in Episode 12
Moon Patrol
Released in 1982 under license by Williams, this fondly remembered game had many redeeming features and remains a firm favourite for retro fans. Parallax scrolling landscapes looked superb, but would be difficult on the Spectrum.
Winner: Moon Patrol from Atarisoft.
See the games in Episode 7
Released in 1982 under license by Williams, this fondly remembered game had many redeeming features and remains a firm favourite for retro fans. Parallax scrolling landscapes looked superb, but would be difficult on the Spectrum.
Winner: Moon Patrol from Atarisoft.
See the games in Episode 7
Pacman
Who doesn’t know this game? The massive sensation released in 1980 was a huge success and is still popular today. The graphics and gameplay would be easy to replicate, but the different Ghost’s intelligence would prove tricky.
Winner: Pacman from Atarisoft
See the games in Episode 100
Who doesn’t know this game? The massive sensation released in 1980 was a huge success and is still popular today. The graphics and gameplay would be easy to replicate, but the different Ghost’s intelligence would prove tricky.
Winner: Pacman from Atarisoft
See the games in Episode 100
Q*Bert
Q*Bert was released in the arcades in 1982 by Gottlieb. Unlike many of its counterparts in the arcades, this game stayed clear of invading aliens and instead gave the player a nice isometric pyramid of blocks that needed changing colour.
Winner: Pogo from Ocean
See the games in Episode 18
Q*Bert was released in the arcades in 1982 by Gottlieb. Unlike many of its counterparts in the arcades, this game stayed clear of invading aliens and instead gave the player a nice isometric pyramid of blocks that needed changing colour.
Winner: Pogo from Ocean
See the games in Episode 18
Robotron
More iconic sound from this 1982 Williams release. Masses of enemies, fast moving gameplay and dual controls would mean this game was very hard to replicate.
Winner: Wild West Hero from Timescape Software
See the games in Episode 62
More iconic sound from this 1982 Williams release. Masses of enemies, fast moving gameplay and dual controls would mean this game was very hard to replicate.
Winner: Wild West Hero from Timescape Software
See the games in Episode 62
Scramble
Released in 1981, this is a firm favourite of arcade goers, containing tricky gameplay, great sounds and multiple scrolling levels. The graphics would be easy enough, the scrolling, not so easy for the Spectrum.
Winner: Penetrator from Melbourne House
See the games in Episode 22
Released in 1981, this is a firm favourite of arcade goers, containing tricky gameplay, great sounds and multiple scrolling levels. The graphics would be easy enough, the scrolling, not so easy for the Spectrum.
Winner: Penetrator from Melbourne House
See the games in Episode 22
Space Invaders
Space Invaders was released into the arcades in 1978 by Taito. It was an instant hit, causing coin shortages in Japan, as hordes of teenagers queued up to defend the Earth against lines of marauding aliens. There were many attempt at this, not all successful.
Winners: Invaders from Artic Computing and Space Raiders from Psion/Sinclair
See the games in Episode 1
Space Invaders was released into the arcades in 1978 by Taito. It was an instant hit, causing coin shortages in Japan, as hordes of teenagers queued up to defend the Earth against lines of marauding aliens. There were many attempt at this, not all successful.
Winners: Invaders from Artic Computing and Space Raiders from Psion/Sinclair
See the games in Episode 1